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About Pulse

Are Pulse always the best way to find cover?

Pulse Insurance specialise in finding insurance when the mainstream market have declined to offer you cover. Our search for your cover is bespoke.

Our selection of a suitable underwriter for your policy is usually driven by the reasons you were declined, which may be your medical conditions, a high sum insured, a short term need for cover or working overseas or in hazardous locations, for example.

One selected, underwriters will assess your case and calculate a premium which will be higher, sometimes much higher where risk is significant, than for someone in perfect health, working at a desk somewhere in the UK.

So unless you have been declined already or know you are very likely to be declined, you may find that the mainstream insurers are the best place to begin your search for cover.

Pulse Insurance were Cover Excellence Award for Specialist Intermediary of the Year 2016.

We are also importantly designated Coverholder at Lloyd’s. This not only means that we work with some of Lloyd’s of London’s most capable and experienced underwriters, but that they allow us to quote and bind cover for them. This is reflection of their trust in our expertise and knowledge in providing Life Insurance.

How can I contact Pulse?

Often a quick call on 01280 841430 is a good way for us to briefly introduce ourselves, to discuss your needs and we will outline how we can help.

You can then decide how you want to proceed.

Our Team are available Monday to Friday from 9 am-5pm.

How do I make a complaint?

Naturally, we strive to do things well and our customer feedback tells us we usually succeed.

But, if you feel we have failed to deliver, please tell us; we welcome you explaining what hasn't worked for you.

We treat any complaint as a serious matter and according to requirements laid down by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Our Complaints Procedure is followed to ensure that we consistently handle things in an appropriate and timely manner and where relevant we learn from any mistakes and if appropriate change how we operate.

Is my policy protected by Lloyd's?

Lloyd’s capital structure, often referred to as the Chain of Security, provides excellent financial security to policyholders and capital efficiency for members.

The capital structure provides the financial strength that ultimately backs all insurance policies written at Lloyd’s and the common security that underpins the market’s strong ratings and global licence network.

What does insuring the unusual mean?

Most of the people who insure through Pulse have either been declined by mainstream insurers or come to us because they know us already or we have been recommended to them.

Typical Pulse insureds need cover for one or more of the following which can fall outside the mainstream insurer's appetite:-

medical conditions

hazardous sports or pastimes

high age or longer policy durations

high value sums insured

higher risk occupations or those working in higher risk environment like oil rigs or countries such as Afghanistan

more complex covers such as relevant life, gift inter vivos, etc.

What does it mean to be a Coverholder at Lloyd's?

A Lloyd's Coverholder is an intermediary that has been granted authority by one or more Lloyd's syndicates to bind and / or administer risks on their behalf.

What makes Pulse Insurance different?

Pulse Insurance is a professional, experienced and friendly team who everyday help people and businesses who are struggling to find cover from everyday insurers. We don't provide advice, but do try to be helpful.

Many life insurers aim to provide a quote and cover to most people. Often, many can enter a few details and see a price and buy online. But, some people find themselves declined at this stage or later for a number of reasons.

Pulse specialise in finding cover for people when other insurers have declined or will only provide a policy on restricted terms.

We cannot always find an underwriter for every situation, but we strive to do so if one exists.

Who are your underwriters?

Who is Lloyd's of London?

The Lloyd's insurance market has an unrivalled concentration of specialist underwriting expertise and every day, more than 50 leading insurance companies, over 200 registered Lloyd’s brokers and a global network of over 4,000 local coverholders operate in and bring business to the Lloyd’s market.

Who is Pulse Insurance?

We are a small specialist insurance provider dedicated to life, personal accident and other protection products for groups and individuals who cannot get the cover they require from the standard market.

Who is the FCA?

The FCA or Financial Conduct Authority is the UK's regulatory authority that is responsible for the oversight of intermediaries and anyone involved in the distribution of financial services products including insurance.

Who recommends Pulse Insurance?

Pulse Insurance have been proud recipient of several industry awards including Cover Excellence Award for Specialist Intermediary of the Year 2016.

Pulse aspire to make sure every client gets the insurance they request and where we see an alternative solution to what is asked for that may be of interest, we will present that to you for consideration.

We do not provide advice or charge a fee.

We are chosen by hundreds of insurance and financial intermediaries, advisors and agents to look after their clients when mainstream insurers are unwilling to do so. We believe their confidence in us is reflective of the service and solutions we provide.

We also believe that care taken when setting up each policy means that if the worst happens, the policy will respond as intended.

We have never seen a valid claim on one of our policies declined since we launched in 1998.

Who underwrites your policies?

Pulse place most of their business with the Lloyd's market which is able to provide specialist covers that are not normally available through standard insurers. In addition Pulse work with a small number of specialist insurers. Pulse are Lloyd's Coverholder.

Why are you not listed on comparison websites?

Pulse Insurance is a specialist provider.

We take care of risks that are not able to be handled by the kind of standardised computer-based underwriting that has brought comparison engines to the fore. These system-based approaches work very well for the majority of people and needs, but as every comparison site acknowledges, they do not cater for everyone.

Pulse deliver a bespoke service - underwriting complex, unusual and higher risk or higher levels of cover that many insurance companies will decline to insure or cannot handle.

Why do you not provide mainstream Life Insurance?

Pulse came into existence to address what other mainstream insurance companies did not do or failed to do well. Our founding directors brought their many years of insurance experience and trusted relationships to find cover for the high risk and the unusual, if it is indeed available.

There are many, many insurance companies who compete to offer life insurance and the like to the vast majority of the population. Many are huge corporate entities spending millions on advertising to attract customers to their wares. The intensity of competition demands they offer value, but as a consequence they reject risks that do not neatly fit their desired profiles.

Pulse are different, we are deliberately niche and specialise in helping find cover for those people the mainstream companies all too often decline or ignore. Our size means we can take pride in being flexible, personal and always professional without the need for vast call centres or endless telephone menus to navigate.

We cannot find cover for everyone, but we like to think if cover is available, we will find it.

Cover Enquiry

Are Pulse always the best way to find cover?

Pulse Insurance specialise in finding insurance when the mainstream market have declined to offer you cover. Our search for your cover is bespoke.

Our selection of a suitable underwriter for your policy is usually driven by the reasons you were declined, which may be your medical conditions, a high sum insured, a short term need for cover or working overseas or in hazardous locations, for example.

One selected, underwriters will assess your case and calculate a premium which will be higher, sometimes much higher where risk is significant, than for someone in perfect health, working at a desk somewhere in the UK.

So unless you have been declined already or know you are very likely to be declined, you may find that the mainstream insurers are the best place to begin your search for cover.

Pulse Insurance were Cover Excellence Award for Specialist Intermediary of the Year 2016.

Are there any cover add-ons or optional covers I can choose?

We don't offer add-ons or optional covers.

Are there any exclusions to my policy?

Our policies have very few exclusions but there are some. You will need to check the wording of your certificate to check the exact terms and conditions of our cover.

Can I save my initial enquiry?

If you complete your details via our online enquiry facility, we also email you a copy of the details you provide.

We recognise that providing personal details and explaining the cover you would like takes time, so we save those basic enquiry details and send them to you. Then we ask you to provide specific information about your medical conditions, sports/pastimes and or occupation as is applicable.

We also recognise that medical information is sensitive and so when you complete an online enquiry, we send this separate to your other details in a password encrypted file.

Can my partner, spouse, wife or husband apply?

Yes. You can detail those whose lives you wish to insure in your Initial Enquiry. If you are unsure whether a single life or joint life policy or the like is suitable, we can explain the differences.

In addition, the Policyholder does not have to be the Insured Person, although there are legal and regulatory requirements regarding their "insurable interest".

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about how to structure the policy you need.

Can you always find cover?

Pulse Insurance have since 1998 specialised in finding cover for the unusual and often do so when other insurers will not quote.

But, there are some circumstances when neither we nor other insurers are likely to be able to offer cover.

These might include some expected circumstances such as:-

when someone is still battling with cancer;

where too many conditions combine to increase morbidity;

when awaiting surgery or recovering;

undiagnosed conditions / awaiting tests or results; or

where treatment is ongoing for an acute condition

Sometimes this reflects a desire to underwrite the person's life once any immediate risk from say a heart operation has passed. It is also driven by the simple truth that the risk from surgery might be so high that the premium would be unaffordable.

Underwriters need to be able to calculate risk and typically do so for events that are possible rather than almost inevitable.

If your occupation is not covered or you have any unanswered questions please do not hesitate to Contact Us.

Can you insure my children?

If you need larger sums insured or a specific cover for a child then this may be available subject to appropriate financial justification for the cover.

Can you match or beat a cheaper quote from another insurer?

Pulse are a specialist insurance provider. We find cover when other insurers decline because of medical conditions or other risk factors.

We find cover through underwriters who consider your individual details and any specific cover needs on a bespoke basis. This means that where a mainstream insurer is able to offer cover (usually via their automated systems), this will be the best cost option for you.

Please be sure to check any limitations, exclusions or cover restrictions which the other insurers may apply. If these exist, making any cover comparison on price alone may not be appropriate.

Can you offer Life cover after a heart transplant?

Life cover may be available to those who have had a heart transplant, however this will depend on your current health.

Can you offer Life cover after a kidney or liver transplant?

Yes, cover is often available if your transplant took place more than 1 year ago and there have been no issues of rejection since.

Please be aware that if a medical report is more than 3-6 months old or if your condition has improved or worsened since the report was provided then underwriters may not be able to use the information.

If you have any queries, please give a member of the team a call on 01280 841430.

n.b. Do not worry if you don’t have any medical reports as they are not usually needed to give an indication of cover / cost.It may be necessary anyway for separate specific medical reports to be sought if you decide to proceed with an application.Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss this.

How are premiums set by the underwriter?

All insurers base their fundamental rates for Life Insurance on actuarial tables. Originally, these simply laid out in historic statistical data, the probability of death of at a given age, perhaps taking into account your occupation, lifestyle and some factors such as where you live and if you smoke(d) / vape(d).

Mainstream insurers and comparison engines use pretty much all the information you supply when getting a quote including some key facts such as your height and weight.

This is often relatively sophisticated but can be driven by extensive statistics. The level of complexity and judgement increases when it comes to adapting those core rates to reflect other factors such as a specific medical condition, hazardous occupation or pastime.

Some statistics for specific conditions may exist, albeit they are less mature or comprehensive. The data sources may not always cover people for every exact condition severity and age with all levels of general health and the presence of multiple conditions makes analysis yet more complex.

Nevertheless, our underwriters have dedicated themselves to achieving ever more accurate and balanced views of the risk presented by every life they assess and quote a premium upon. They use all the information to hand including emerging medical trends, studies and treatments balanced against the specific medical reports they obtain about the life they are being asked to cover.

The resulting premium is the underwriter's calculation of risk against the level of cover requested. The premium is set on the snapshot of your health when the policy is rated and taken out.

If a person begins a policy and their condition worsens or a new condition arises, the underwriter will NOT look for an increase in premium on that policy. The premium will stay fixed for the term of the policy and the underwriter will bear the increased risk.

How can I enquire / apply for cover?

Pulse have created a process which experience shows best meets the needs of the client, intermediary and underwriter.

An Initial Enquiry gathers enough information for an underwriter to provide an Indication of Premium, if they expect to be able to provide cover. This is done based on assumptions from what may be limited medical or other details and is their best estimate of the cost.

Typically, within 5 working days or often less, the client can consider if the indication of premium is affordable, understand the cover that is possible and or adjust their cover request prior to completing an Application.

The Application needs to be completed by the life insured and will also include authority for the insurer to access medical records.

Once the Application and Medical Reports can be assessed by the underwriter, they will then provide a formal quotation in most cases. Sometimes, the Medical Reports reveal details which mean cover is not available as hoped, but the Initial Enquiry tries to prevent this from occurring.

The final premium and terms may vary from the Indication of Premium where the precise underwriting of the risk requires adjustment. The difference, if any, may be an increase or a reduction reflecting rating on facts.

How do I confirm I want to accept a quote?

After you have submitted the initial questionnaire, we will provide a non-binding indication.

This usually takes 5 working days. If, at that point, you want to go ahead just email us and then please send us the full proposal form to be completed and will arrange for any necessary medical reports to be obtained.

Once we have the reports, we will provide a binding quotation which will usually be valid for 30 days.

Please let us know that you would like to accept the quote and we will put cover in place.

How do I decide how long my policy lasts?

For life business, our maximum term for risks placed into the Lloyd's market is 10 years.

We offer longer periods of cover for UK residents and can even offer Whole of Life cover.

Personal Accident business is usually written on an annual basis.

The duration of the policy will generally depend on the reason for cover and will usually match the related financial commitment.

How do I decide my sum insured?

We are flexible in terms of what sum insured is required and generally would not need full financial underwriting for sums insured under £1m. Where the sum insured relates to a mortgage or other financial commitment we may need evidence of the amount.

Generally, we would expect cover unrelated to a specific financial commitment to be around 4 or 5 times salary.

How long does it take to get an indication of premium?

Typically, depending on the complexity of the Enquiry and any medical conditions, we expect to revert with an Indication of Premium, if cover is potentially available, within 3-5 working days.

An Indication of Premium, means the underwriter expects to be able to offer cover based on the details provided. It is possible that the Medical report may reveal additional details that make cover impossible to provide, but this does not happen frequently.

How soon after treatment or surgery can you insure me?

If you have a chronic condition that requires ongoing medication - please read this FAQ.

Insurers commonly will not provide cover until some time after any surgery or treatment has completed (sometimes referred to as the postponement period).

The length of standard market insurer's postponement period is a very important trigger as to why clients come to Pulse to help find cover. Pulse are sometimes able to offer a form of cover somewhat sooner.

Cover is almost never available through Pulse or other insurers while treatment or surgery is planned or during the immediate recovery phase.

Once a person has stabilised and any issue such as transplant rejection have been passed, cover can begin to be considered for some cases.

Cover for those in remission for certain types of cancer is sometimes possible, but the postponement period is usually longer.

Regardless of the case, Pulse are often able to investigate cover availability before mainstream insurers will be willing to do so.

The timing when cover may be available will be driven by the individual person's health and also very much by the specific medical condition(s), medical history and treatment they have received (It is impossible to provide meaningful yet generalised guidelines).

N.B. Unfortunately, life cover is simply not currently available from any underwriters for Alzheimer's and a few other specific conditions.

I have a mortgage / loan pending, how quickly can cover be put in place?

As all of our cases are medically underwritten, it very much depends on how quickly the paperwork is returned or how quickly a medical exam can be set up etc. there is no set time frame. We will provide you with an indication of cost within 5 working days based on the information provided. If the medical reports reveal no new information we would expect the formal quote to be broadly the same as the indication but we make no guarantee on rate until medical tests have been completed.

I have obtained a quote / policy terms elsewhere, can you offer a lower price?

Pulse are a specialist insurance provider. We find cover when other insurers decline because of medical conditions or other risk factors.

We find cover through underwriters who consider your individual case details and any specific cover needs on a bespoke basis.

This means that where a mainstream insurer can offer the cover required (usually when quoted via their automated systems), this will usually be the best cost option for you.

Please be sure to check any limitations, exclusions or cover restrictions which the other insurer may apply. If these exist, making any cover comparison on price alone may not be appropriate. Often, we can offer unrestricted cover or higher sums insured or longer terms of insurance than the mainstream market.

In addition, it is often possible for us to offer cover before the mainstream market is willing to do so where you are recovering from a condition. You can search for your condition(s), review details and if desired complete the relevant questions when enquiring online or offline. The availability of cover will always be down to your specific circumstances and our underwriters may also seek a Postponement Period albeit often shorter than the mainstream market.

If you feel that other insurers are not asking enough or even the right questions to understand your conditions and so are not providing a fair price for your risk, you might wish to discuss it with them. You are welcome to contact us if you believe we can help.

If any insurer(s) are offering cover that will explicitly exclude your condition or provide no cover for your hazardous pastime or imposes other restrictions on cover, we may be able to help.

If a medical condition is controlled by medication or treated in some way, do you still need a questionnaire to be completed?

Yes, you should inform us of every condition, whether or not, the condition is totally controlled or has been treated.

The underlying presence or history of every condition is still relevant to underwriters.

Is cover available for someone with a medical condition?

We have split our answer by type of insurance :-

Life Insurance

We provide quite detailed and specific information about the availability of Life cover for a wide range of medical conditions. You can search for your condition(s) review these details and, if desired, submit an enquiry online or offline.

We have tried to highlight where a condition may affect availability and/ or cost. If you are at all unsure, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Other Insurance

In most cases, when Life Insurance is available, then Travel Insurance can also be purchased, at least on a single trip basis.

In addition, there are cases, where a condition is ongoing or render life cover unavailable, where Travel Insurance may be found.

In some cases, a long trip duration or travel to country with higher medical costs such as USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong or the Caribbean can also see higher premiums.

The unique personal and travel circumstances are always going to dictate the outcome and costs; we recommend you make a Travel Insurance enquiry allowing enough time for cover to be found.

We recommend you contact us to discuss these as each case tends to be unique to the condition and often to the person to be insured.

What are the next steps if the Indication of Premium is acceptable?

Once it is established that cover could be available and the indicative price is acceptable, the full Application form should be completed and signed.

Once received and checked through, the underwriters will request any Medical Report(s) as necessary and then review the information to determine if they can offer final terms.

You will have the chance to review these and indicate if you wish to proceed or not.

What is the maximum Body Mass Index (BMI) you can insure?

We are able to find Life cover up to a BMI of 60 where there are no other conditions or complications (e.g. High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Diabetes, etc.).

In practice, as a person's BMI increases, it is common for other conditions to present or be underlying. The presence of these or other conditions does not mean cover is unavailable, but a person's overall state of health will need to be assessed and some combinations of conditions may make cover unavailable without a BMI of below that figure.

It is almost inevitable that the underwriters will seek a medical report, if the application proceeds. The initial indication of premium will be more accurate with a more complete picture up front.

What is the maximum sum insured I can choose?

Our maximum sum insured is typically £5m.

What is the minimum age I can buy a policy?

You must be 18 years of age to buy a Policy for yourself. We may be able to issue coverage bought on behalf of a life insured under 18 however we would need to establish a full financial justification.

Why could my quote different from the Indication of Premium?

The Indication of premium is intended to be a quick way for everyone to see if cover is available and the approximate price based on the facts available and any assumptions that must be made.

The final premium and terms may vary from the Indication of Premium where the precise underwriting of the risk requires adjustment. The difference, if any, may be an increase or a reduction reflecting rating or more detailed facts revealed (often in formal medical reports).

This two-phase process offers some benefits to everyone:-

If the Indicative premium is lower than expected, this may be a pleasant surprise or allow the client to choose a higher sum insured in their Application. The converse is also true.

If the basic details mean the underwriter is unfortunately unable to offer cover for your medical conditions, they can advise this without a time-wasting medical.

You may be given a "postponement period" (after surgery / treatment for example) telling you when they would be able to re-examine things.

Will I have to pay a fee to arrange a policy?

You will not have to pay a fee to arrange a policy.

If there are costs involved in obtaining medical information / reports from your doctor(s), these will usually be met by the underwriter.

Will pre-existing medical conditions affect my policy?

It is vitally important you declare all pre-existing medical conditions.

The impact each condition will have on your policy depends on how that condition increases the risk of you dying.

Many conditions are benign in terms of affecting your mortality even if they are not pleasant or easy to live with. Others can have a dramatic impact even if they appear to be "handled" by prescribed medication.

Our underwriters are extremely knowledgeable and able to place a person's health accurately into the context of their morbidity (risk of death). This means they can take account of your individual health circumstances and determine a relevant and fair premium for cover, if it is available.

There are however some occasions when it is not possible to offer cover.

How cover works

Am I covered outside the UK?

Typical personal policies cover you worldwide 24/7 - however as Pulse specialise in insuring the unusual, we need to be more precise in our reply. In cases where you undertake dangerous work, live in more hazardous environments or countries or have a high risk pastime such as track racing, you will have declared this during your application and cover will have been clarified. If your travel abroad is for incidental holidays, you cover is unaffected.

Are my premiums fixed?

Your premiums will be calculated and fixed when you buy a policy and will never increase on that Policy.

If you cancel a policy and arrange another policy when you are older or based on your health at that later date, your new premium quoted may be higher to reflect the fact you are older and any medical conditions that may have arisen since the original policy incepted.

Are there any cover add-ons or optional covers I can choose?

We don't offer add-ons or optional covers.

Are there any exclusions to my policy?

Our policies have very few exclusions but there are some. You will need to check the wording of your certificate to check the exact terms and conditions of our cover.

Can I cancel my insurance policy after 14 days?

Our policies have either a 14 or 30 day cooling off period.

This will be made clear to you at the time of purchase and be stated in your policy documents.

If you decide to cancel this policy within the first 14 / 30 days following the Commencement Date as shown on your Policy Schedule, we will provide a full refund of your premium unless you have made a claim, in which case no refund of premium will be provided.

If you decide to cancel this policy after this 14 / 30 day period, there may be a pro rata refund of premium but this is at the underwriters discretion and will depend on the amount of time the policy still has to run and the details of the policy. If you have any queries about this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If a claim has been made on the policy no refund of premium shall be provided.

Can I change my cover?

Any change in the amount of cover will be subject to agreement by underwriters.

Please contact us to see whether this will be possible. Whether it is available or not will depend on the amount of the increase and how soon after the initial application the change is requested.

Can I change my Policy details after it has incepted?

You can readily update many "personal" details after a policy has incepted such as name, address and payment. Please contact us with the details.

However, in cases such as if a different Sum Assured is required or some other change to the cover itself, a new policy would need to be arranged.

Can I upgrade my cover?

Any change in the amount of cover will be subject to agreement by underwriters. Please contact us to see whether this will be possible. Whether it is available or not will depend on the amount of the increase and how soon after the initial application the change is requested.

Can you cover anyone who has an address outside the UK?

Pulse Insurance is authorised to write insurance where the policyholder has an address in a Lloyd's of London authorised area. The scope of this geographical cover can be checked at any time - Verify your country /location.

However, such policies would be for a maximum 10 year term.

Please give us a call if you wish to check the availability or limitation on cover we can offer.

Can you cover non-UK Expatriates?

Pulse Insurance is authorised to write insurance if your client has an address in a Lloyds authorised area.

Can you cover UK expatriates?

The scope of this geographical cover can be checked at any time - Verify your location. Cover for outside the UK can be obtained up to a maximum 10 year term.

Please give us a call if you wish to check the availability or limitation on cover we can offer.

Can you provide insurance to people who work extensively abroad but who are UK residents?

Yes, we are usually able to provide our full range of covers to most who work abroad.

There can be exceptions and limitations in some cases; if relevant we will explain these to you when you enquire or you are welcome to contact us in the first instance.

Can you provide policies with premiums and/or sums insured set in a different currency?

Yes, we are able to set up policies with either limits or premium or both in a wide range of major world currencies.

Please contact us to discuss if you would like to discuss a specific currency requirement.

We often issue polices in Pounds sterling, euro, US Dollars, Canadian Dollars and other European and some Middle Eastern currencies.

Do I need to tell you about a change in my health?

Life Insurance

We need to be told of any change to your health prior to your policy incepting.

Once your policy has begun, changes in your health will not affect your cover or your premium. The premium is calculated based on the snapshot of your health before inception and the premiums are set then for the life of the policy.

Travel Insurance

This is important and different to other products. You should follow the guidance in your policy documents, but in general any change in your health which might give rise to a cancellation or medical expenses claim needs to be notified.

How can I pay for my policy?

At present, we offer direct debit payment as the method for all GBP (Sterling) based multi-payment policies.

Our clients tell us this is their preferred option - especially when a 10-year policy paid monthly means we all want 120 trouble-free payments.

If a policy requires up front or single payment, we can also accept bank transfers or card payments

In all cases, the inception and continuity of cover is wholly contingent on payment of premium.

How do I decide how long my policy lasts?

For life business, our maximum term for risks placed into the Lloyd's market is 10 years.

We offer longer periods of cover for UK residents and can even offer Whole of Life cover.

Personal Accident business is usually written on an annual basis.

The duration of the policy will generally depend on the reason for cover and will usually match the related financial commitment.

Is my cover 24/7 worldwide?

Typically, personal policies cover you worldwide 24/7 - however as Pulse specialise in insuring the unusual, we need to be more precise in our reply.

In cases where you undertake dangerous work, live in more hazardous environments or countries or have a high-risk pastime such as track racing, you will have declared this during your application and cover will have been clarified.

If your travel abroad is for incidental holidays, your cover is unaffected.

Is there any Insurance Premium Tax on insurance?

This depends on the type of cover you are buying.

Where Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is applicable this will be clearly shown and split separately on the indication you receive.

Life insurance, however, is generally exempt from IPT.

What happens if I wish to cancel my policy?

Your cancellation rights and the process to request cancellation are explained in detail in your policy. This includes the right to cancel a policy during a cooling off period as you would expect.

If you wish to discuss this before you buy a policy or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

What is a "waiver of premium"?

Waiver of premium is a facility provided by some policies that provides for premiums to be paid even if the policyholder has lost their job or had to stop work after an accident or sickness.

Pulse do not offer waiver of premium.

What is the maximum age you can buy a policy or be covered by one?

Our underwriters issue policies with term covering up to and very occasionally beyond 90 years of age.

Policies must usually incept before a person is 85 years of age.

It is inevitable beyond the age of 90 that the premiums will increase and even for someone in perfect health affordability tends to be an issue after this point.

What is the maximum term of cover you can offer?

Where health is less certain, for expats or other risks are higher, policies are arranged through Lloyd's of London underwriters.

These policies can be for up to a 10 year term in line with Lloyd's market limits and any case-specific underwriting restrictions.

What is the minimum age I can buy a policy?

You must be 18 years of age to buy a Policy for yourself. We may be able to issue coverage bought on behalf of a life insured under 18 however we would need to establish a full financial justification.

What might cause a Segue policy to not "pay out"?

Our insurance policies typically have very few exclusions, but there are some.

You will need to check the wording of your Policy Certificate to check the exact terms and conditions of our cover.

When does my cover begin?

Your cover begins on the inception day indicated on your policy documents.

Who receive the benefits from my policy if I die?

Any payments made will usually form part of your estate and will be distributed under the terms of your will or the intestacy rules if you do not have a will.

If you choose to set up the policy under trust then the benefit will be paid to the nominated beneficiary under the terms of the trust. The nominated beneficiary may be you partner, spouse, one or more children, or a third party.

Will you tell me when my Policy coverage ends?

We will contact you 60 to 90 days before your policy ends to discuss arranging renewal.

Life Insurance

Are my premiums fixed?

Your premiums will be calculated and fixed when you buy a policy and will never increase on that Policy.

If you cancel a policy and arrange another policy when you are older or based on your health at that later date, your new premium quoted may be higher to reflect the fact you are older and any medical conditions that may have arisen since the original policy incepted.

Can I add Critical Illness cover?

No, we do not usually provide critical illness insurance.

It is sometimes possible to offer Income Replacement cover, but this depends on the client's medical conditions and overall health status. We have provided some details about Income Protection insurance.

Although it is not possible to give a categorical answer about the availability of Critical Illness or Income Protection insurance for everyone unable to access the standard market, our experience is that where Life cover itself is only available at non-standard rates then critical illness cover will not be available. This is because these conditions can lead to periods of unstable health.

Can I put my policy in Trust?

If you choose to set up the policy under trust then the benefit will be paid to the nominated benificary under the terms of the trust.

The nominated beneficiary may be your partner, spouse, one or more children, or a third party.

Can you always find cover?

Pulse Insurance have since 1998 specialised in finding cover for the unusual and often do so when other insurers will not quote.

But, there are some circumstances when neither we nor other insurers are likely to be able to offer cover.

These might include some expected circumstances such as:-

when someone is still battling with cancer;

where too many conditions combine to increase morbidity;

when awaiting surgery or recovering;

undiagnosed conditions / awaiting tests or results; or

where treatment is ongoing for an acute condition

Sometimes this reflects a desire to underwrite the person's life once any immediate risk from say a heart operation has passed. It is also driven by the simple truth that the risk from surgery might be so high that the premium would be unaffordable.

Underwriters need to be able to calculate risk and typically do so for events that are possible rather than almost inevitable.

If you are unsure if we may be able to provide cover, please do not hesitate to contact us first.

Can you cover anyone who has an address outside the UK?

Pulse Insurance is authorised to write insurance where the policyholder has an address in a Lloyd's of London authorised area. The scope of this geographical cover can be checked at any time - Verify your country /location.

However, such policies would be for a maximum 10 year term.

Please give us a call if you wish to check the availability or limitation on cover we can offer.

Can you cover HIV with other medical conditions?

We are happy to provide cover to people who are HIV positive.

Where a person has other conditions as well, then the availability of cover is something that we will discuss with underwriters.

Can you cover me for a surgical operation?

Insurers commonly will not provide Life cover before surgery, for the surgical procedure or immediately after any surgery.

Cover is almost never available while treatment is planned or during the immediate recovery phase.

Once a person has stabilised and any issue such as transplant rejection have been bypassed, cover can begin to be considered.

Can you provide cover for a Joint Life 3rd or 4th Death?

Yes, we are able to do this. You will need to supply us details of all the lives to be covered. Our Online Enquiry form allows you to add details for multiple lives.

Can you provide cover with a suicide exclusion?

Yes, in some cases we can.

Can you provide insurance to people who work extensively abroad but who are UK residents?

Yes, we are usually able to provide our full range of covers to most who work abroad.

There can be exceptions and limitations in some cases; if relevant we will explain these to you when you enquire or you are welcome to contact us in the first instance.

Can you provide policies with premiums and/or sums insured set in a different currency?

Yes, we are able to set up policies with either limits or premium or both in a wide range of major world currencies.

Please contact us to discuss if you would like to discuss a specific currency requirement.

We often issue polices in Pounds sterling, euro, US Dollars, Canadian Dollars and other European and some Middle Eastern currencies.

Do I have life cover from my employer?

You will need to check your contract of employment or speak to your HR Department to find out about death in service cover. Whether your death in service cover is sufficient will depend on the level of cover provided and the amount of financial benefit you wish to provide.

Do I need to tell you about a change in my health?

Life Insurance

We need to be told of any change to your health prior to your policy incepting.

Once your policy has begun, changes in your health will not affect your cover or your premium. The premium is calculated based on the snapshot of your health before inception and the premiums are set then for the life of the policy.

Travel Insurance

This is important and different to other products. You should follow the guidance in your policy documents, but in general any change in your health which might give rise to a cancellation or medical expenses claim needs to be notified.

Do you offer critical illness cover?

No, we do not usually provide critical illness insurance. In fact, many of those we insure (could) have already made a claim under a Critical illness policy and so are not in a position to buy that cover ongoing.

It is sometimes possible to offer Income Replacement cover, but this depends on the client's medical conditions and overall health status.

It is not possible to generalise about the availability of Income Replacement insurance where Life cover itself is only available at non-standard rates or a pre-existing medical condition can lead to periods of unstable health.

How can a will help with my life insurance?

Any payments made will usually form part of your estate and will be distributed under the terms of your will or the intestacy rules if you do not have a will.

If you choose to set up the policy under trust then the benefit will be paid to the nominated beneficiary under the terms of the trust.

The nominated beneficiary may be your partner, spouse, one or more children, or a third party.

You will need to get specific advice related to inheritance tax but generally payments made in trust are not subject to IHT.

How can I enquire / apply for cover?

Pulse have created a process which experience shows best meets the needs of the client, intermediary and underwriter.

An Initial Enquiry gathers enough information for an underwriter to provide an Indication of Premium, if they expect to be able to provide cover. This is done based on assumptions from what may be limited medical or other details and is their best estimate of the cost.

Typically, within 5 working days or often less, the client can consider if the indication of premium is affordable, understand the cover that is possible and or adjust their cover request prior to completing an Application.

The Application needs to be completed by the life insured and will also include authority for the insurer to access medical records.

Once the Application and Medical Reports can be assessed by the underwriter, they will then provide a formal quotation in most cases. Sometimes, the Medical Reports reveal details which mean cover is not available as hoped, but the Initial Enquiry tries to prevent this from occurring.

The final premium and terms may vary from the Indication of Premium where the precise underwriting of the risk requires adjustment. The difference, if any, may be an increase or a reduction reflecting rating on facts.

How soon after treatment or surgery can you insure me?

If you have a chronic condition that requires ongoing medication - please read this FAQ.

Insurers commonly will not provide cover until some time after any surgery or treatment has completed (sometimes referred to as the postponement period).

The length of standard market insurer's postponement period is a very important trigger as to why clients come to Pulse to help find cover. Pulse are sometimes able to offer a form of cover somewhat sooner.

Cover is almost never available through Pulse or other insurers while treatment or surgery is planned or during the immediate recovery phase.

Once a person has stabilised and any issue such as transplant rejection have been passed, cover can begin to be considered for some cases.

Cover for those in remission for certain types of cancer is sometimes possible, but the postponement period is usually longer.

Regardless of the case, Pulse are often able to investigate cover availability before mainstream insurers will be willing to do so.

The timing when cover may be available will be driven by the individual person's health and also very much by the specific medical condition(s), medical history and treatment they have received (It is impossible to provide meaningful yet generalised guidelines).

N.B. Unfortunately, life cover is simply not currently available from any underwriters for Alzheimer's and a few other specific conditions.

If a medical condition is controlled by medication or treated in some way, do you still need a questionnaire to be completed?

Yes, you should inform us of every condition, whether or not, the condition is totally controlled or has been treated.

The underlying presence or history of every condition is still relevant to underwriters.

Is "single life" or "joint life" insurance better for me?

Whether single or joint life cover is better for you will depend on your reasons for purchasing cover.

Joint life cover will usually be slightly cheaper than two separate single life policies, but single policies can offer more flexibility.

You should take advice on this.

Is cover available for someone with a medical condition?

We have split our answer by type of insurance :-

Life Insurance

We provide quite detailed and specific information about the availability of Life cover for a wide range of medical conditions. You can search for your condition(s) review these details and, if desired, submit an enquiry online or offline.

We have tried to highlight where a condition may affect availability and/ or cost. If you are at all unsure, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Other Insurance

In most cases, when Life Insurance is available, then Travel Insurance can also be purchased, at least on a single trip basis.

In addition, there are cases, where a condition is ongoing or render life cover unavailable, where Travel Insurance may be found.

In some cases, a long trip duration or travel to country with higher medical costs such as USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong or the Caribbean can also see higher premiums.

The unique personal and travel circumstances are always going to dictate the outcome and costs; we recommend you make a Travel Insurance enquiry allowing enough time for cover to be found.

We recommend you contact us to discuss these as each case tends to be unique to the condition and often to the person to be insured.

What does "level term insurance" mean?

Term life policies are either "level term" which means that they stay the same for the whole of the policy period or "decreasing" which means that the sum insured reduces over the policy period.

Our policies do not include an investment element and there is no money back at the end of the policy term.

We will contact you 60 to 90 days before your policy ends to discuss arranging renewal.

What does life insurance cover?

Our life insurance policies will pay out on the death of the life insured.

Life insurance is generally purchased to cover financial commitments to third parties such as banks or else to ensure the financial security of the insured's family after their death by providing for a sufficient lump sum or ongoing regular benefit.

What happens if I get diagnosed with a terminal illness?

Our Life policies do not include terminal illness cover as standard.

What happens if I survive the term of a Life policy?

Our Life policies do not include an investment element and there is no money back at the end of the policy term.

We will contact you 60 to 90 days before your policy ends to discuss arranging renewal.

What is "joint Life cover"?

Our life insurance policies will pay out on the death of the life insured.

A joint life policy will usually pay on either the first or second death of an indivual and their partner.

First death type policies are often used to protect against mortgage obligations; second death to help cover IHT liabilities.

What is a gift inter vivos Policy?

Where life cover is bought to cover a potentially exempt transfer (so called "Gift Inter Vivos") under the 7 year IHT rule then the amount of cover will decrease to track the amount of IHT due.

What is the cash in value of my policy?

Our policies do not include an investment element and there is no cash in value or money back at the end of the policy term.

We will contact you 60 to 90 days before your policy ends to discuss arranging renewal.

What is the difference between Life insurance and "over 50s Life insurance"?

Standard term life insurance involves an assessment of the health of an individual or couple so that life cover can be put in place.

Over 50s life insurance is usually written on a guaranteed acceptance basis.

That means that there are no medical questionnaires to complete but usually there is no cover for an initial period of time (e.g. 12 months) and the maximum sum insured is often very restricted.

What is the difference between Life insurance and a "Funeral Plan"?

A funeral plan sometimes refers to over 50s life cover but is a contract with a funeral director to provide funeral services on death.

Over 50s life insurance is usually written on a guaranteed acceptance basis.

That means that there are no medical questionnaires to complete but usually there is no cover for an initial period of time (e.g. 12 months) and the maximum sum insured is often very restricted.

What is the maximum age I can obtain Life insurance?

The maximum age for cover will usually be driven by affordabilty.

Our usual maximum age for a policy to incept is before the insured's 85th birthday.

We have however issued policies to those who were older.

What is the maximum age you can buy a policy or be covered by one?

Our underwriters issue policies with term covering up to and very occasionally beyond 90 years of age.

Policies must usually incept before a person is 85 years of age.

It is inevitable beyond the age of 90 that the premiums will increase and even for someone in perfect health affordability tends to be an issue after this point.

What is the maximum Body Mass Index (BMI) you can insure?

We are able to find Life cover up to a BMI of 60 where there are no other conditions or complications (e.g. High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Diabetes, etc.).

In practice, as a person's BMI increases, it is common for other conditions to present or be underlying. The presence of these or other conditions does not mean cover is unavailable, but a person's overall state of health will need to be assessed and some combinations of conditions may make cover unavailable without a BMI of below that figure.

It is almost inevitable that the underwriters will seek a medical report, if the application proceeds. The initial indication of premium will be more accurate with a more complete picture up front.

What is the maximum sum insured I can choose?

Our maximum sum insured is typically £5m.

What is the maximum term of cover you can offer?

Where health is less certain, for expats or other risks are higher, policies are arranged through Lloyd's of London underwriters.

These policies can be for up to a 10 year term in line with Lloyd's market limits and any case-specific underwriting restrictions.

Why do I need Life Insurance?

Our life insurance policies will pay out on the death of the life insured.

Life insurance is generally purchased to cover financial commitments to third parties such as banks or else to ensure the financial security of the insured's family after their death by providing for a sufficient lump sum or ongoing regular benefit.

Why may I need more than my Death in Service benefit from my employer?

Our life insurance policies will pay out on the death of the life insured.

Life insurance is generally purchased to cover financial commitments to third parties such as banks or else to ensure the financial security of the insured's family after their death by providing for a sufficient lump sum or ongoing regular benefit.

Whether your death in service cover is sufficient will depend on the level of cover provided and the amount of financial benefit you wish to provide.

Why might I consider putting my life insurance policy in trust?

Any payments made will usually form part of your estate and will be distributed under the terms of your will or the intestacy rules if you do not have a will.

If you choose to set up the policy under trust then the benefit will be paid to the nominated beneficiary under the terms of the trust.

The nominated beneficiary may be your partner, spouse, one or more children, or a third party.

You will need to get specific advice related to inheritance tax but generally payments made in trust are not subject to IHT.

Will my Life premiums change?

Your Life premiums are guaranteed not to change for the duration of the policy. All our premiums are guaranteed and not reviewable.

Where relevant, we will contact you 60 - 90 days before renewal to discuss the terms that will be applied after that.

Will pre-existing medical conditions affect my policy?

It is vitally important you declare all pre-existing medical conditions.

The impact each condition will have on your policy depends on how that condition increases the risk of you dying.

Many conditions are benign in terms of affecting your mortality even if they are not pleasant or easy to live with. Others can have a dramatic impact even if they appear to be "handled" by prescribed medication.

Our underwriters are extremely knowledgeable and able to place a person's health accurately into the context of their morbidity (risk of death). This means they can take account of your individual health circumstances and determine a relevant and fair premium for cover, if it is available.

There are however some occasions when it is not possible to offer cover.

Will you tell me when my Policy coverage ends?

We will contact you 60 to 90 days before your policy ends to discuss arranging renewal.

Other Products

Can Dividends be taken into account for Income Replacement cover?

Yes, underwriters can consider Dividends as a percentage of the client’s salary.

You will ideally need to provide evidence of 3-years dividends. Where such detail is made available and values are reasonably constant, underwriters may consider Dividends as contributing towards up to 75% of salary.

However, bonuses and overtime cannot be included in salary sums insured.

Can you cover HIV with other medical conditions?

We are happy to provide cover to people who are HIV positive.

Where a person has other conditions as well, then the availability of cover is something that we will discuss with underwriters.

Can you cover occupations which may involve some additional hazards such as work at height or offshore or oil industry work?

Yes, we are able to cover many hazardous occupations. We have provided some quite specific and we hope useful guidance for many such occupations.

If your occupation is not covered or you have any unanswered questions please do not hesitate to Contact Us.

Can you insure my voice?

Yes, we can offer insurance for your voice, please see details of Segue Voice Insurance product.

Do you offer critical illness cover?

No, we do not usually provide critical illness insurance. In fact, many of those we insure (could) have already made a claim under a Critical illness policy and so are not in a position to buy that cover ongoing.

It is sometimes possible to offer Income Replacement cover, but this depends on the client's medical conditions and overall health status.

It is not possible to generalise about the availability of Income Replacement insurance where Life cover itself is only available at non-standard rates or a pre-existing medical condition can lead to periods of unstable health.

How can I claim back my consultant costs with Segue insurance?

For consultations, just send a copy of the payment receipt for your Consultant’s fees and we will reimburse you within 21 days to your bank account.

How can I claim for a serious or severe condition when I have Segue insurance?

For payments in respect of Severe conditions requiring surgery just let us know that you have been diagnosed with a condition that stops you from working and will require surgery: we will transfer the cash benefits direct to your bank account and make arrangements to pay the cost of your treatment direct to the Consultant or Hospital.

How did Segue Voice insurance come about?

A few years ago one of the product founders developed a polyp on her vocal cord that necessitated surgery and resulted in a loss of income for a period of time. She was lucky enough (with the help of her employer) to receive swift, expert treatment, which, after surgery, enabled her to continue her career. If she had been completely freelance, such help would have been unavailable to her. This gave her the idea to use her experience to help others by creating this insurance cover.

If a medical condition is controlled by medication or treated in some way, do you still need a questionnaire to be completed?

Yes, you should inform us of every condition, whether or not, the condition is totally controlled or has been treated.

The underlying presence or history of every condition is still relevant to underwriters.

Is cover available for someone with a medical condition?

We have split our answer by type of insurance :-

Life Insurance

We provide quite detailed and specific information about the availability of Life cover for a wide range of medical conditions. You can search for your condition(s) review these details and, if desired, submit an enquiry online or offline.

We have tried to highlight where a condition may affect availability and/ or cost. If you are at all unsure, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Other Insurance

In most cases, when Life Insurance is available, then Travel Insurance can also be purchased, at least on a single trip basis.

In addition, there are cases, where a condition is ongoing or render life cover unavailable, where Travel Insurance may be found.

In some cases, a long trip duration or travel to country with higher medical costs such as USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong or the Caribbean can also see higher premiums.

The unique personal and travel circumstances are always going to dictate the outcome and costs; we recommend you make a Travel Insurance enquiry allowing enough time for cover to be found.

We recommend you contact us to discuss these as each case tends to be unique to the condition and often to the person to be insured.

What does "Professional" mean in Segue insurance?

Anyone who is remunerated for using their voice can purchase this cover. This cover is for all those who use their voice professionally.

The professional singer diagnosed with a condition that effectively means that paid singing is a thing of the past

The singer who loses their voice for several months due to a polyp but may be able to return to singing

An actor who loses their voice so can’t speak or perform

Any performer who is worried that their voice is not behaving normally and would like to seek the advice of an ENT surgeon for guidance on treatment/self help methods/reassurance that all is well.

When should I tell you if I may need to claim on my Segue Insurance?

If you wish to make a claim for total disability you should contact your representative as soon as is reasonably practicable after you see your specialist ENT consultant and/or member(s) of a hospital specialist multidisciplinary team (MDT), and certainly within thirty (30) days of your consultation.

When will my Segue Voice insurance cover end?

Segue is an annual policy. We will contact you 30 days before renewal to inform you about the terms of cover. The maximum age for cover under the Segue policy is 60.

Which consultant can I go to see with Segue insurance?

Remember the Ear Nose & Throat consultant you choose to see is up to you, we do not restrict who you choose to see as long as they are a UK registered ENT specialist.

Who recommends Segue insurance?

Segue is recommended by a number of professional singers and voice users.

Who underwrites Segue Voice insurance?

The insurer is Tokio Marine Kiln Syndicates Limited, whose address is 20 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BY, United Kingdom. Tokio Marine Kiln Syndicates Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the PRA and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with the Financial Services Register number of 204909.

Why does nobody else offer Segue Voice insurance?

Segue is a unique policy developed by Pulse and Segue to provide for professional voice users.

Will my Life premiums change?

Your Life premiums are guaranteed not to change for the duration of the policy. All our premiums are guaranteed and not reviewable.

Where relevant, we will contact you 60 - 90 days before renewal to discuss the terms that will be applied after that.

Apply for Cover

Can I cancel my insurance policy after 14 days?

Our policies have either a 14 or 30 day cooling off period.

This will be made clear to you at the time of purchase and be stated in your policy documents.

If you decide to cancel this policy within the first 14 / 30 days following the Commencement Date as shown on your Policy Schedule, we will provide a full refund of your premium unless you have made a claim, in which case no refund of premium will be provided.

If you decide to cancel this policy after this 14 / 30 day period, there may be a pro rata refund of premium but this is at the underwriters discretion and will depend on the amount of time the policy still has to run and the details of the policy. If you have any queries about this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If a claim has been made on the policy no refund of premium shall be provided.

Please be aware that if a medical report is more than 3-6 months old or if your condition has improved or worsened since the report was provided then underwriters may not be able to use the information.

If you have any queries, please give a member of the team a call on 01280 841430.

n.b. Do not worry if you don’t have any medical reports as they are not usually needed to give an indication of cover / cost.It may be necessary anyway for separate specific medical reports to be sought if you decide to proceed with an application.Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss this.

Does the applicant need to sign the Application form?

Yes, it forms part of the contract between the client and the underwriters.

This forms part of the contract between the client and the underwriters and this is always needed to obtain / grant permission to source medical information.

Does the person paying need to sign the original direct debit mandate?

Yes, not all banks will not accept scanned copies of Direct Debit Mandates.

So at present, the person paying must sign and this original "wet-signature" signed mandate must be posted to us, so we can meet this requirement.

How and when do I need to pay the premium?

We collect most premiums by monthly or annual direct debits. You can choose a preferred monthly DD payment date.

Some policies are arranged annually. Annual premiums need to be paid by 30 days after the Policy incepts.

Some special types of policy must be paid in full at inception.

Please do not hesitate to call us to discuss the payment options you would prefer.

How are premiums set by the underwriter?

All insurers base their fundamental rates for Life Insurance on actuarial tables. Originally, these simply laid out in historic statistical data, the probability of death of at a given age, perhaps taking into account your occupation, lifestyle and some factors such as where you live and if you smoke(d) / vape(d).

Mainstream insurers and comparison engines use pretty much all the information you supply when getting a quote including some key facts such as your height and weight.

This is often relatively sophisticated but can be driven by extensive statistics. The level of complexity and judgement increases when it comes to adapting those core rates to reflect other factors such as a specific medical condition, hazardous occupation or pastime.

Some statistics for specific conditions may exist, albeit they are less mature or comprehensive. The data sources may not always cover people for every exact condition severity and age with all levels of general health and the presence of multiple conditions makes analysis yet more complex.

Nevertheless, our underwriters have dedicated themselves to achieving ever more accurate and balanced views of the risk presented by every life they assess and quote a premium upon. They use all the information to hand including emerging medical trends, studies and treatments balanced against the specific medical reports they obtain about the life they are being asked to cover.

The resulting premium is the underwriter's calculation of risk against the level of cover requested. The premium is set on the snapshot of your health when the policy is rated and taken out.

If a person begins a policy and their condition worsens or a new condition arises, the underwriter will NOT look for an increase in premium on that policy. The premium will stay fixed for the term of the policy and the underwriter will bear the increased risk.

How can I enquire / apply for cover?

Pulse have created a process which experience shows best meets the needs of the client, intermediary and underwriter.

An Initial Enquiry gathers enough information for an underwriter to provide an Indication of Premium, if they expect to be able to provide cover. This is done based on assumptions from what may be limited medical or other details and is their best estimate of the cost.

Typically, within 5 working days or often less, the client can consider if the indication of premium is affordable, understand the cover that is possible and or adjust their cover request prior to completing an Application.

The Application needs to be completed by the life insured and will also include authority for the insurer to access medical records.

Once the Application and Medical Reports can be assessed by the underwriter, they will then provide a formal quotation in most cases. Sometimes, the Medical Reports reveal details which mean cover is not available as hoped, but the Initial Enquiry tries to prevent this from occurring.

The final premium and terms may vary from the Indication of Premium where the precise underwriting of the risk requires adjustment. The difference, if any, may be an increase or a reduction reflecting rating on facts.

How long after the Medical Report is supplied before final terms will be considered and offered, if available?

If the medical report is complete and no additional information is required, we aim to have a final underwriting decision in 5 -10 working days.

How long does a Medical Report take?

Our underwriter's request for a medical report is made promptly on receipt of your signed application.

We are unable gauge the time your surgery/GP/consultant requires to return this to us.

We will chase up on a regular basis, but it is generally helpful to the timeline if the insured person chases directly.

How long does it take to get a GP's report?

Our underwriter's request for a GP's Report is made promptly on receipt of your signed application.

We are unable to gauge the time your surgery/GP requires to return this to us.

We will chase up on a regular basis, but it is generally helpful to the timeline if the insured person chases directly.

Is there a cooling off period?

Our policies have either a 14 or 30 day cooling off period.

If you decide to cancel this policy within the first 14 / 30 days following the Commencement Date as shown on your Policy Schedule, we will provide a full refund of your premium unless you have made a claim, in which case no refund of premium will be provided.

If you decide to cancel this policy after this 14 / 30 day period, we shall provide a pro rata refund, unless you have made a claim, based upon the remainder of full months left to run.

If a claim has been made on the policy no refund of premium shall be provided.

What are the next steps if the Indication of Premium is acceptable?

Once it is established that cover could be available and the indicative price is acceptable, the full Application form should be completed and signed.

Once received and checked through, the underwriters will request any Medical Report(s) as necessary and then review the information to determine if they can offer final terms.

You will have the chance to review these and indicate if you wish to proceed or not.

When does my cover begin?

Your cover begins on the inception day indicated on your policy documents.

Who should complete the Identity Verification Certificate?

We are required to seek completion of this form for anti-money laundering purposes.

The form should be completed by applicant the adviser/introducer with details of the company or person that is paying for the cover

Why could my quote different from the Indication of Premium?

The Indication of premium is intended to be a quick way for everyone to see if cover is available and the approximate price based on the facts available and any assumptions that must be made.

The final premium and terms may vary from the Indication of Premium where the precise underwriting of the risk requires adjustment. The difference, if any, may be an increase or a reduction reflecting rating or more detailed facts revealed (often in formal medical reports).

This two-phase process offers some benefits to everyone:-

If the Indicative premium is lower than expected, this may be a pleasant surprise or allow the client to choose a higher sum insured in their Application. The converse is also true.

If the basic details mean the underwriter is unfortunately unable to offer cover for your medical conditions, they can advise this without a time-wasting medical.

You may be given a "postponement period" (after surgery / treatment for example) telling you when they would be able to re-examine things.

Will I have to pay a fee to arrange a policy?

You will not have to pay a fee to arrange a policy.

If there are costs involved in obtaining medical information / reports from your doctor(s), these will usually be met by the underwriter.

Policy Changes

Can I cancel my insurance policy after 14 days?

Our policies have either a 14 or 30 day cooling off period.

This will be made clear to you at the time of purchase and be stated in your policy documents.

If you decide to cancel this policy within the first 14 / 30 days following the Commencement Date as shown on your Policy Schedule, we will provide a full refund of your premium unless you have made a claim, in which case no refund of premium will be provided.

If you decide to cancel this policy after this 14 / 30 day period, there may be a pro rata refund of premium but this is at the underwriters discretion and will depend on the amount of time the policy still has to run and the details of the policy. If you have any queries about this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If a claim has been made on the policy no refund of premium shall be provided.

Can I change my cover?

Any change in the amount of cover will be subject to agreement by underwriters.

Please contact us to see whether this will be possible. Whether it is available or not will depend on the amount of the increase and how soon after the initial application the change is requested.

Can I change my insurance policy or increase or decrease my cover levels?

Any change in the amount of cover will be subject to agreement by underwriters.

Please contact us to see whether this will be possible. Whether it is available or not will depend on the amount of the increase and how soon after the initial application the change is requested.

Can I change my Policy details after it has incepted?

You can readily update many "personal" details after a policy has incepted such as name, address and payment. Please contact us with the details.

However, in cases such as if a different Sum Assured is required or some other change to the cover itself, a new policy would need to be arranged.

Can I upgrade my cover?

Any change in the amount of cover will be subject to agreement by underwriters. Please contact us to see whether this will be possible. Whether it is available or not will depend on the amount of the increase and how soon after the initial application the change is requested.

Do I need to tell you about a change in my health?

Life Insurance

We need to be told of any change to your health prior to your policy incepting.

Once your policy has begun, changes in your health will not affect your cover or your premium. The premium is calculated based on the snapshot of your health before inception and the premiums are set then for the life of the policy.

Travel Insurance

This is important and different to other products. You should follow the guidance in your policy documents, but in general any change in your health which might give rise to a cancellation or medical expenses claim needs to be notified.

Do you charge an admin fee to make a change?

We do not charge fees for making changes to personal information.

You may make changes to your personal details by contacting the Representative who arranged the Policy for you or by contacting Pulse Insurance:

Do you charge for cancellation?

We do not charge a cancellation fee. Our policies have either a 14 or 30 day cooling off period.

If you decide to cancel this policy within the first 14 / 30 days following the Commencement Date as shown on your Policy Schedule, we will provide a full refund of your premium unless you have made a claim, in which case no refund of premium will be provided.

If you decide to cancel this policy after this 14 / 30 day period, we shall provide a pro rata refund, unless you have made a claim, based upon the remainder of full months left to run.

If a claim has been made on the policy no refund of premium shall be provided.

You may cancel this Policy in line with the conditions detailed above by contacting the Representative who arranged the Policy for you or by contacting Pulse Insurance:

Is there a cooling off period?

Our policies have either a 14 or 30 day cooling off period.

If you decide to cancel this policy within the first 14 / 30 days following the Commencement Date as shown on your Policy Schedule, we will provide a full refund of your premium unless you have made a claim, in which case no refund of premium will be provided.

If you decide to cancel this policy after this 14 / 30 day period, we shall provide a pro rata refund, unless you have made a claim, based upon the remainder of full months left to run.

If a claim has been made on the policy no refund of premium shall be provided.

A Claim Form will be sent to You In order for the claim to be assessed, you will need to complete and return the Claim Form together with the original Death Certificate.

In addition, the Underwriter may need some, or, all of the following evidence depending on the nature and circumstances of the claim:

Proof of the Life Assured’s ageOwnership details

Medical reports and records

Coroners and/or police reports

Such other information as the Underwriters may reasonably require to assess the claim

If it should be found that the age of the Life Assured was understated when this Policy commenced, then the Sum Assured shall be reduced to such a sum as would have been assured had the age been correctly stated.

How do I notify you of a death?

If You wish to make a claim, You may either contact the Representative who arranged cover for You, who will notify Us of Your claim, or contact Us, directly:-

A Claim Form will be sent to You In order for the claim to be assessed, you will need to complete and return the Claim Form together with the original Death Certificate.

In addition, the Underwriter may need some, or, all of the following evidence depending on the nature and circumstances of the claim:

Proof of the Life Assured’s ageOwnership details

Medical reports and records

Coroners and/or police reports

Such other information as the Underwriters may reasonably require to assess the claim

If it should be found that the age of the Life Assured was understated when this Policy commenced, then the Sum Assured shall be reduced to such a sum as would have been assured had the age been correctly stated.

How does someone make a claim?

Life Insurance

We know this is a difficult time and we will help guide you until things are sorted.

If someone insured dies or is diagnosed as terminally ill or critically injured and expected to die, please call us on +44 1280 841430, so we can discuss matters and begin making a claim, if that is appropriate.

Your policy documents also contain information about what happens if you need to make a claim.

Travel Insurance

Your policy documents also contain IMPORTANT information about what happens if you need to make a claim. This is especially important if you fall ill abroad and are about to incur medical expenses.

All Other Policy Types

Your policy documents also contain information about what happens if you need to make a claim.

Is my Life insurance settlement subject to Inheritance Tax?

Any payments made will usually form part of your estate and will be distributed under the terms of your will or the intestacy rules if you do not have a will.

If you choose to set up the policy under trust then the benefit will be paid to the nominated beneficiary under the terms of the trust.

The nominated beneficiary may be you partner, spouse, one or more children, or a third party.

You should consider getting specific advice related to inheritance tax.

Who receive the benefits from my policy if I die?

Any payments made will usually form part of your estate and will be distributed under the terms of your will or the intestacy rules if you do not have a will.

If you choose to set up the policy under trust then the benefit will be paid to the nominated beneficiary under the terms of the trust. The nominated beneficiary may be you partner, spouse, one or more children, or a third party.

For Intermediaries

Can Dividends be taken into account for Income Replacement cover?

Yes, underwriters can consider Dividends as a percentage of the client’s salary.

You will ideally need to provide evidence of 3-years dividends. Where such detail is made available and values are reasonably constant, underwriters may consider Dividends as contributing towards up to 75% of salary.

However, bonuses and overtime cannot be included in salary sums insured.

Can I email the completed Application form?

Yes, we welcome an email copy in the first instance, however, we will only be able to fully proceed once the original version signed by relevant parties has been posted to us and received.

Can I email an Enquiry Form?

Yes, we welcome email enquiries.

We will be able to seek an indication of cover and premium from your email enquiry.

However, we will only be able to fully proceed to arrange an actual policy once the original application version signed by relevant parties has been posted to us and received.

Can I save my initial enquiry?

If you complete your details via our online enquiry facility, we also email you a copy of the details you provide.

We recognise that providing personal details and explaining the cover you would like takes time, so we save those basic enquiry details and send them to you. Then we ask you to provide specific information about your medical conditions, sports/pastimes and or occupation as is applicable.

We also recognise that medical information is sensitive and so when you complete an online enquiry, we send this separate to your other details in a password encrypted file.

Can you arrange medical examinations at the weekend?

We can request a weekend medical from your GP or local surgery. We know that not all surgeries are able to provide this service, but many are happy to do so.

Can you arrange Medical Examinations overseas?

Yes. Please contact us to discuss if you would like to discuss our arrangements.

We are also importantly designated Coverholder at Lloyd’s. This not only means that we work with some of Lloyd’s of London’s most capable and experienced underwriters, but that they allow us to quote and bind cover for them. This is reflection of their trust in our expertise and knowledge in providing Life Insurance.

Unsubscribing will only limit our sending of pure marketing communications. Any communication which is part of our service provision or provides important information about our services will continue to be sent (while you have an active or recently active policy or if you are or have acted as an intermediary).

How do I make a complaint?

Naturally, we strive to do things well and our customer feedback tells us we usually succeed.

But, if you feel we have failed to deliver, please tell us; we welcome you explaining what hasn't worked for you.

We treat any complaint as a serious matter and according to requirements laid down by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Our Complaints Procedure is followed to ensure that we consistently handle things in an appropriate and timely manner and where relevant we learn from any mistakes and if appropriate change how we operate.

How long after the Medical Report is supplied before final terms will be considered and offered, if available?

If the medical report is complete and no additional information is required, we aim to have a final underwriting decision in 5 -10 working days.

How long does a Medical Report take?

Our underwriter's request for a medical report is made promptly on receipt of your signed application.

We are unable gauge the time your surgery/GP/consultant requires to return this to us.

We will chase up on a regular basis, but it is generally helpful to the timeline if the insured person chases directly.

How long does it take to get a GP's report?

Our underwriter's request for a GP's Report is made promptly on receipt of your signed application.

We are unable to gauge the time your surgery/GP requires to return this to us.

We will chase up on a regular basis, but it is generally helpful to the timeline if the insured person chases directly.

How long does it take to get an indication of premium?

Typically, depending on the complexity of the Enquiry and any medical conditions, we expect to revert with an Indication of Premium, if cover is potentially available, within 3-5 working days.

An Indication of Premium, means the underwriter expects to be able to offer cover based on the details provided. It is possible that the Medical report may reveal additional details that make cover impossible to provide, but this does not happen frequently.

I have a client in the Republic of Ireland looking for cover for a mortgage, can the policy be assigned to a bank?

Yes.

I have a mortgage / loan pending, how quickly can cover be put in place?

As all of our cases are medically underwritten, it very much depends on how quickly the paperwork is returned or how quickly a medical exam can be set up etc. there is no set time frame. We will provide you with an indication of cost within 5 working days based on the information provided. If the medical reports reveal no new information we would expect the formal quote to be broadly the same as the indication but we make no guarantee on rate until medical tests have been completed.

I have obtained a quote / policy terms elsewhere, can you offer a lower price?

Pulse are a specialist insurance provider. We find cover when other insurers decline because of medical conditions or other risk factors.

We find cover through underwriters who consider your individual case details and any specific cover needs on a bespoke basis.

This means that where a mainstream insurer can offer the cover required (usually when quoted via their automated systems), this will usually be the best cost option for you.

Please be sure to check any limitations, exclusions or cover restrictions which the other insurer may apply. If these exist, making any cover comparison on price alone may not be appropriate. Often, we can offer unrestricted cover or higher sums insured or longer terms of insurance than the mainstream market.

In addition, it is often possible for us to offer cover before the mainstream market is willing to do so where you are recovering from a condition. You can search for your condition(s), review details and if desired complete the relevant questions when enquiring online or offline. The availability of cover will always be down to your specific circumstances and our underwriters may also seek a Postponement Period albeit often shorter than the mainstream market.

If you feel that other insurers are not asking enough or even the right questions to understand your conditions and so are not providing a fair price for your risk, you might wish to discuss it with them. You are welcome to contact us if you believe we can help.

If any insurer(s) are offering cover that will explicitly exclude your condition or provide no cover for your hazardous pastime or imposes other restrictions on cover, we may be able to help.

What are the next steps if the Indication of Premium is acceptable?

Once it is established that cover could be available and the indicative price is acceptable, the full Application form should be completed and signed.

Once received and checked through, the underwriters will request any Medical Report(s) as necessary and then review the information to determine if they can offer final terms.

You will have the chance to review these and indicate if you wish to proceed or not.

What commission is paid?

Pulse Insurance receive commission from insurers and share this with you as the intermediary. We do not charge a fee for our services.

The amount of commission payable to the intermediary will be set out at the time the indicative quotation is provided and confirmed once acceptance terms are offered.

The rate of commission payable is on a non-indemnity basis up to 25% of the premium per annum for the duration of the policy and again, we share this equally with the introducing intermediary.

Where an intermediary is a member of a network, commission will be paid to that network, unless we receive written authorisation from the network to the contrary.

We endeavour to pay indemnity commission within 5 days of receipt from the insurer.

In cases where non-indemnity commission is payable and premiums are being collected by monthly direct debit, commission is paid quarterly.

In addition to commission, Pulse also receives an administrative fee from Tokio Marine Kiln Life Syndicate 308 for issuing their Policy Certificates and collecting premiums.

On risks outside the UK, we are not able to pay indemnity commission.

What does insuring the unusual mean?

Most of the people who insure through Pulse have either been declined by mainstream insurers or come to us because they know us already or we have been recommended to them.

Typical Pulse insureds need cover for one or more of the following which can fall outside the mainstream insurer's appetite:-

medical conditions

hazardous sports or pastimes

high age or longer policy durations

high value sums insured

higher risk occupations or those working in higher risk environment like oil rigs or countries such as Afghanistan

more complex covers such as relevant life, gift inter vivos, etc.

Who should complete the Identity Verification Certificate?

We are required to seek completion of this form for anti-money laundering purposes. The form should be completed with details of the company or person that is paying for the cover.

Why are you sending me news and marketing emails?

We believe it is important to keep our clients and intermediaries appraised our services, products and activities.

We also hope to provide occasional informative and useful news whether that be a new cover that is available or a shift in the terms or position on cover availability following medical advancement.

You may unsubscribe at any time. Each marketing communication we send by email include a link which allows you to unsubscribe at the foot of the email.

Why could my quote different from the Indication of Premium?

The Indication of premium is intended to be a quick way for everyone to see if cover is available and the approximate price based on the facts available and any assumptions that must be made.

The final premium and terms may vary from the Indication of Premium where the precise underwriting of the risk requires adjustment. The difference, if any, may be an increase or a reduction reflecting rating or more detailed facts revealed (often in formal medical reports).

This two-phase process offers some benefits to everyone:-

If the Indicative premium is lower than expected, this may be a pleasant surprise or allow the client to choose a higher sum insured in their Application. The converse is also true.

If the basic details mean the underwriter is unfortunately unable to offer cover for your medical conditions, they can advise this without a time-wasting medical.

You may be given a "postponement period" (after surgery / treatment for example) telling you when they would be able to re-examine things.

Why do you not provide mainstream Life Insurance?

Pulse came into existence to address what other mainstream insurance companies did not do or failed to do well. Our founding directors brought their many years of insurance experience and trusted relationships to find cover for the high risk and the unusual, if it is indeed available.

There are many, many insurance companies who compete to offer life insurance and the like to the vast majority of the population. Many are huge corporate entities spending millions on advertising to attract customers to their wares. The intensity of competition demands they offer value, but as a consequence they reject risks that do not neatly fit their desired profiles.

Pulse are different, we are deliberately niche and specialise in helping find cover for those people the mainstream companies all too often decline or ignore. Our size means we can take pride in being flexible, personal and always professional without the need for vast call centres or endless telephone menus to navigate.

We cannot find cover for everyone, but we like to think if cover is available, we will find it.

Will you send me marketing emails & can I opt out?

We ask clients if they would like to receive communications when they make an enquiry. We do not ever intentionally send spam (unsolicited emails).

We must send policy service emails to our policyholders regardless of their marketing communication preferences. This is fulfilling our regulatory obligations.

We like to keep our intermediaries and also customers who request it informed and up to date.

We publish/send a combination of news items, newsletters by email and blog posts in addition to general updates to our site information.

Occasionally, we seek policyholder, claimant and intermediary feedback to ensure we are complying with our regulatory requirements and to allow us to improve our service.

A Claim Form will be sent to You In order for the claim to be assessed, you will need to complete and return the Claim Form together with the original Death Certificate.

In addition, the Underwriter may need some, or, all of the following evidence depending on the nature and circumstances of the claim:

Proof of the Life Assured’s ageOwnership details

Medical reports and records

Coroners and/or police reports

Such other information as the Underwriters may reasonably require to assess the claim

If it should be found that the age of the Life Assured was understated when this Policy commenced, then the Sum Assured shall be reduced to such a sum as would have been assured had the age been correctly stated.

Can you cover anyone living outside of the UK?

Pulse Insurance is authorised to write insurance even in if your client has an address in a Lloyds authorised area.

Can you insure a sole-trader or for example a self-employed builder?

Yes, we would require details of occupation and salary.

Can you provide cover in different currencies?

Yes. We are able to set up policies with either limits or premium or both in a range of major world currencies. Please contact us to discuss if you would like to discuss a specific currency requirement.

Do I get any money back when my Life policy ends?

Our policies do not include an investment element and there is no money back at the end of the policy term.

We will contact you 60 to 90 days before your policy ends to discuss arranging renewal.

How can I unsubscribe from your e-mail newsletter and marketing communications?

Each marketing communication we send by email include a link which allows you to unsubscribe at the foot of the email.

Unsubscribing will only limit our sending of pure marketing communications. Any communication which is part of our service provision or provides important information about our services will continue to be sent (while you have an active or recently active policy or if you are or have acted as an intermediary).

How do I make a complaint?

Naturally, we strive to do things well and our customer feedback tells us we usually succeed.

But, if you feel we have failed to deliver, please tell us; we welcome you explaining what hasn't worked for you.

We treat any complaint as a serious matter and according to requirements laid down by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Our Complaints Procedure is followed to ensure that we consistently handle things in an appropriate and timely manner and where relevant we learn from any mistakes and if appropriate change how we operate.

A Claim Form will be sent to You In order for the claim to be assessed, you will need to complete and return the Claim Form together with the original Death Certificate.

In addition, the Underwriter may need some, or, all of the following evidence depending on the nature and circumstances of the claim:

Proof of the Life Assured’s age

Ownership details

Medical reports and records

Coroners and/or police reports

Such other information as the Underwriters may reasonably require to assess the claim

If it should be found that the age of the Life Assured was understated when this Policy commenced, then the Sum Assured shall be reduced to such a sum as would have been assured had the age been correctly stated.

If I decide to cancel my insurance cover, can I get my money back?

"We do not charge a cancellation fee. Our policies have either a 14 or 30 day cooling off period.

If you decide to cancel this policy within the first 14 / 30 days following the Commencement Date as shown on your Policy Schedule, we will provide a full refund of your premium unless you have made a claim, in which case no refund of premium will be provided.

If you decide to cancel this policy after this 14 / 30 day period, we shall provide a pro rata refund, unless you have made a claim, based upon the remainder of full months left to run.

If a claim has been made on the policy no refund of premium shall be provided.